UK company announces plans to begin building cars

A London-based car design company has announced its first production models.

Ant-Kahn will develop its own sports cars, including a retro-styled open two-seater barchetta (pictured) and, next year, a re-modelled Aston Martin.

The vehicles will be designed and engineered by the Ant-Kahn group, a business collaboration between Kahn Design and motor company owner Ant Anstead.

Kahn Design owner Afzal Kahn said the cars will follow in the footsteps of the iconic TVR brand and "help maintain Britain's place at the forefront of world manufacturing innovation".

He said: "This is the first time in many years that a group of like-minded people have come together with the aim to follow in the footsteps of TVR and create some truly special British sports cars.

"In the past, people have promised a great deal, yet have delivered next to nothing.

"However, we are already working on exciting future plans that extend from coach-built special editions to the manufacture of motor vehicles, and you will see a number of models come to fruition in the coming weeks and months ahead that fuse Britain's glorious automotive heritage with the excitement of our, as of yet unwritten, future."

A heavily-modified Land Rover Defender, called the Flying Huntsman, will also be released. It will be a long-nose Defender powered by a V8 engine, with a six-speed automatic gearbox. The first prototype is being completed at Kahn Design's UK headquarters.